Charles m



with a letter inserted.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. UN DERlVOOD, OF HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA.

INSCRIPTION AND MOTTO PLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,809, dated June 25, 1889.

Application filed March 7, 1889. Serial No. 302,254.

1'0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. UNDER- WOOD,a citizen of the United States, residing at Hamilton, in the county of \Ventworth, Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Inscription and Motto Plates,of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my-improved inscription and motto plate embodying my invention, with a part of the lettercase broken away to show the depressed panel-plate and the perpendicular slit or hole through the plate. Fig. 2 is the letter-case Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the plate, letter-case, and letterblock at mm. Fig. 4 is a block with a letter on its face side used in connection with my improved plate. Fig. 5 is a blank used to fill the space in the letter-case that is not occupied by the letter-blocks that make up the name required.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The obj ect of my invention is to provide a plate in which the letters used in making up the name, motto, numbers, &c., may be easily adjusted and secured in the plate and is especially designed for use on coffins.

It cons sts of a plate having one or more depressed panels for the reception of a lettercase containing the letter-blocks used in making up the name, age, and date of death, &c., and is more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, A represents the plate.

B is a depression in the surface of the plate to provide for the thickness of the letter-case, Fig. 2, and the letter-block E, so that the face of the letter and surface of the plate may be on a level with each other.

C is a perpendicular slit or hole through the plate at each end of the panel-plate B.

The letter-case, Fig. 2, is made with its sides H bent up and inward sufficiently to lap over the ends of letter-block E, when placed-in the letter-case on plate D for the purpose of hold ing the letter-blocks and blank blocks in the case, leaving room for the letter-blocks to be slid in the case on plate D and underneath the lap H from either end of letter-case. The letter-case has on each end a projection G,

(No model.)

bent down at right angles. A long letter-case may have a projection G in its center with corresponding slit 0 in the plate. After the name has been set up in the letter-case and the vacant space filled with blank blocks the case is placed in the depressed panel-plate B, the projections G G pressed thro lgh the plate in slits C C and bent around a sharp elevated corner on back or under side of plate. The letter-case and plate will then be securely fastened together.

The letter-blocks E and blank blocks F may have their face surface ornamented with any design or have perpendicular lines to correspond with lines or joinings between the blocks, giving the whole surface of blocks a uniform appearance, showing no break between the blocks.

The plate and letter-blocks may be made of any material, preferably of some soft metal that can be pressed or cast into shape.

The letter-case maybe made of any pliable material, as thin copper or brass. v

The depressed panel in the plate may be dispensed with should the design of plate require it.

My improved plate overcomes a great many objections found in the engraved platesviz., no imperfectly-shaped letters; no time lost in sending the plate away to be engraved, scratched, and soiled; last, but not least, no mistakes to annoy the undertaker.

Should a mistake occur it can be corrected in a few minutes by raising or straightening up the projections C C on under side of plate, taking the letter-case from the plate, correct the mistake, and return the letter-case to the plate and fasten as before.

I am aware that prior to my invention there was a door -plate made using letters with prongs at the top and bottom to pass through longitudinal parallel slits in the plate and bend over and between notches on back side of the plate.

My inscription or motto plate differs from v the above plate, viz: First, the letters used are on thin blocks, which are easily handled, can be made cheap, Will always be on the same angle with each other and at proper distances apart when put in the letter-case, (not forced too far apart or drawn too close together by the prongs not properly registering piece, must keep the depressed letter-panel at its proper depth, besides showing no slits through the plate, giving it a broken and unfinished look the whole' length of letter-panel not covered by the letter-prongs. These improvements give my plate a finished and workmanlike appearance to recommend itself to the trade. I

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An inscription or motto plate consisting of a main frame having a depressed panelplate between two perpendicular slits, a letter-case to fit in said panel, having its side walls bent upward and inward for the reception of letter-blocks, and having bent prongs at each end, and letter-blocks and blankblocks to place in said letter-case, all substantially as set forth.

2. A letter-case adapted to be inserted within a frame having its side walls bent upward and inward, forming grooves or channels to hold blocks with letters or designs on their face-surface, also having a bent prong at each end for the purpose of fastening itselfto a plate or frame, substantially as set forth. 7

CHARLES M. UNDERWOOD.

\Vitnesses:

VILLIAM Po'rHIER, WALTER DITTY. 

